This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 680,063 filed Apr. 26, 1976 and now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wall structure for insulating and enclosing a building frame. More specifically, the invention relates to a wall structure which retains electrical wiring and provides a base and reinforcement for an interior finishing layer of plaster.
Post-and-beam frame construction is a well known and popular form of home construction. Several styles of prefabricated or precut housing have been developed in recent years to take advantage of modern manufacturing techniques combining the appearance and cost advantage of post-and-beam construction.
Typically, in a post-and-beam structure a heavy wooden frame is constructed of vertical posts and horizontal beams which receive the roof and upper floor stresses and transmit them to the posts.
After the frame has been constructed, various known means may be used for enclosing and insulating the building. Insulation may be placed between the beams and siding nailed to the outside of the beams. A wire lathing as a base for plastering or wall board may be secured to the inside surface of the frame. However, this form of construction has two drawbacks. First, the insulation does not serve to keep the structural members themselves at a uniform temperature. Therefore, in cold weather, the interior side of the post is warmer than the outside and moisture migrates from the inside toward the colder outside where it condenses, flows downward and accumulates to cause rotting or to freeze and weaken the frame members. Secondly, this construction does not enable the builder to leave the beams exposed if he wishes to do so.
Accordingly, some home manufacturers attach the insulation outside of the main structural members. This construction exposes the structural members to view and insulates them from cold temperature. However, a problem inherent with this type of enclosure is that there is no convenient way to conceal wiring along the wall. Further, it does not provide a fully suitable arrangement for applying plaster to the inside of the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved wall structure for enclosing a building frame.
A further object of the invention is to provide a wall structure with an improved arrangement for an interior plaster layer.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure which supports and conceals electrical wiring.
In accordance with the above objectives, I provide a wall structure for enclosing a building frame, the wall structure comprising, alternately, in vertical succession, panels of insulation and reinforcing stringers. A mesh attaches to the outside of the frame and the stringers and panels attach to the frame outside the mesh. Some of the panels are sectioned to receive horizontal electrical, wiring extending around the structure between the sections. The mesh provides a base and reinforcement for a finish layer of plaster on the inside surface of the wall structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more readily understood from the following when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of the wall structure of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a wall structure segment using a sectioned panel of insulation in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows generally a portion of a
building frame 10 which is enclosed by a
wall structure 12 in accordance with the present invention. The
frame 10 includes a
post 14,
beams 16, and
knee braces 18.
To enclose the
frame 10, a
mesh 20, which may be common "chicken-wire" or other wire mesh, is stapled or otherwise secured to the outside of the
frame 10.
Wooden stringers 22 and
foam insulation panels 24 are stacked alternately outside the
mesh 20. The
stringers 22 may be common 2×4 lumber and the
panels 24 may be rigid polystyrene foam.
Nails 26 are "toe-nailed", or angled, through the
stringers 22 and
panels 24 into the
post 14 and the other posts around the structure to secure them to the
frame 10. Thus, a wall of alternating nailer-
stringers 22 and
insulating panels 24 is secured to the outside of the frame. The
mesh 20 is stapled with
staples 25 or otherwise secured at intervals to the
stringers 22.
The inside surface of the
wall structure 12 may be finished by applying a layer of plaster 27 which adheres to the
foam panels 24 and the
mesh 20 and is reinforced by the
mesh 20. The
mesh 20, which is customarily transported in rolls, forms an uneven, sinuous surface when unrolled. This surface is imbedded in the plaster layer 27 to provide the above mentioned reinforcement. Spacers (not shown) may be inserted between the
wall structure 12 and
mesh 20 to insure that the mesh is spaced from the foam panels and thus is imbedded in the plaster layer. Consequently, the
mesh 20, in combination with the
present wall structure 12, eliminates the need for conventional lathing, and, additionally, reinforces the plaster finish layer 27.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, some of the panels of
insulation 24 are divided into
section 24a and 24b.
Electrical wires 28 for connection to various outlets are disposed between the
sections 24a and 24b and the sections are pressed together to enclose the
wires 28. Since the
panels 24 are made of an easily deformable material, the adjacent surfaces of
panels 24a and 24b deform to accommodate the
wires 28. Thus, the
wires 28 are quickly installed and concealed. In the event that unusually
thick wires 28 are installed, a groove may be cut in one or both of the
sections 24 to accommodate the wires. One highly desirable result of this construction is that the
wires 28 are quickly installed around the perimeter of the frame without cutting through the
vertical posts 14. This is a distinct advantage over known wall construction.
A layer of
waterproof siding 30, secures to the
stringers 22, seals the outside of the wall structure and provides a decorative exterior surface.
Thus, the present wall structure fulfills the objects of the invention. It is made from inexpensive and readily available materials and is quickly constructed using only hand tools. Electrical wiring is readily concealed within the structure and its inside and outside surfaces are appropriate for finishing by plastering and siding, respectively.
It will be clear to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention being defined with particularity in the attached claims.